Barcelona, Champions League and Atlético Madrid
Digest more
Hansi Flick's side played half of Atletico Madrid's 2-0 win with 10 players, but familiar issues up front were just as big a factor
Manager of FC Barcelona, Hansi Flick, has attributed his side’s defeat to Atlético Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League (UCL)
Julian Alvarez netted a superb free kick and Alexander Sorloth doubled the visitors’ advantage as Diego Simeone produced a tactical masterclass to earn his first ever victory at Barca. Alvarez’s opener stemmed from a mistake by Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi, who felled Giuliano Simeone as the Atleti winger raced through on goal.
Listen to BBC radio commentary, follow live text updates, latest scores and match stats as Real Barcelona take on Atletico Madrid and Liverpool travel to PSG in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
An energetic display capped off by a piece of world-class magic; Wednesday's performance is exactly why Barça rate Julián Álvarez so highly, and the reason Atleti won't give up their talisman cheaply.
PSG put on a dominating performance against Liverpool in Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal and will take a 2-0 advantage into next week's second leg. The Ligue 1 leaders went ahead after 11 minutes when Désiré Doué's shot deflected off Ryan Gravenberch’s foot and over Giorgi Mamardashvili’s head.
The Champions League is back this week for the first legs of the quarter finals across Europe